"So let me get this straight," Inuyasha replied as he finally donned his red haori before looking Link straight in the eye. "That peddler took us back in time to stop him from doing something stupid and retrieve the pendant which still exists in this time period, but right now we are also up against a dangerous mask and a war?" Talk about a lot!
Link nodded. He was sitting on the edge of the bed, watching Inuyasha pace the room, his confusion finally subsided. "If my assumptions are correct, the peddler may be in possession of the mask…and at the moment Ikana is indeed being watched from the Garo just outside the borders of the Kingdom. It's likely the war could happen at any time before our departure back to Clock Town."
"Damn it! I don't get it! So you're telling me this mask has an evil spirit of a demon in it?" He asked, and when he received a nod from the young swordsman, Inuyasha scratched his head irritably. "And somehow that masked salesman has it in this time period? But how can you be so sure he has it? Did you see him in this time period when I wasn't aware of my senses or what?"
Link shook his head. "Unfortunately Kagome and I have not yet stumbled upon him, but what's more important is waiting for the mask. The mask will come to us for certain."
"So all we have to do is wait for the mask to get sealed inside the Stone Tower… and then what?" Inuyasha asked.
"When the mask is sealed, Inuyasha, that's the moment the Happy Mask Salesman will retrieve it. He warned us in Clock Town not to let him steal it from the tower. If we do this, he will help us to summon the Goddesses."
Inuyasha immersed himself in all this information. "So…what originally happened in the past when he stole it, besides the war and all?"
At this point, Link recalled four years ago, after battling the dead King, a conversation the two had shared. "From what I have learned from history, when the doors to Stone Tower were thrust open, winds of darkness blew across the land of Ikana. If you think about it, the tower as of the moment has no such power, but I believe after Majora was placed there for safe keeping and out of the reach of those who would abuse its power, that power had manifested itself within the strong hold. When the Happy Mask Salesman stole it from the tower, for whatever reasons that he had, that power erupted from the tower, and I believe, at that moment, Ikana faced its worst fear ever known. It must have been the moment he regretted ever taking the mask. Perhaps it too was such cause of Ikana's collapse besides the war."
Inuyasha snorted at this. "Well the idiot had it coming! He had no business playing with a mask that housed the spirit of a demon! Just what the hell was he thinking or intending to do with that kind of power? I thought he was awfully suspicious in the first place!"
Link had to silently agree with him. Just why did the Happy Mask Salesman want the mask?
At this moment, Link wondered something. Since the Happy Mask Salesman had such strange powers to teleport just like Armaros, he wondered if he used this power to somehow find the mask. He remembered the very words the Happy Mask Salesman had said to him four years ago during Termina's previous terror.
"I went to great lengths to get that mask!"
So it must have been him who brought the mask from some other world…but why?
Just what was he hoping to accomplish by bringing the mask into the world of the living? Had he done it because he heard tales of it from stories and only wished to have it because it seemed so rare and mysterious? Was it harmless thinking on his part? What if it wasn't entirely innocent? What if he knew of the dangers? Link knew the peddler to be more cunning and mischievous than to steal it because of its value. So he must have known of the evil inside of it and the destruction it could cause. There was no other explanation.
"So all we do is just wait for the mask to come to us?" Well it sounded a lot simpler than he originally thought.
Link stood up from the bed and approached the half demon. "Before we do anything, I need to speak with the King first. I need to know if he has any knowledge of the mask. If the Happy Mask Salesman knew of its existence after so many years, then surely the King must know as well. I remember defeating the evil in the mask four years ago, perhaps if I…"
No, if he managed to somehow obliterate the evil inside the mask, and if he did stop the Happy Mask Salesman from stealing the mask from Stone Tower, then that would definitely change history. If that happened, Link would have never ended up mugged by Skull Kid in the Lost Woods. Link would have never wound up in Termina to begin with or met Inuyasha and his friends. Though that would mean Link would have perished with Hyrule when the Goddesses had flooded the land back then. Would that happen?
But the peddler was so desperate back in Clock Town when he pleaded to them to stop him in the past from taking the mask, also promising to help them summon the Goddesses in return. Though it was a mystery the peddler lived for so many years, somehow existing in the present day of Termina, he also promised to help them summon the Goddesses. Perhaps stealing the mask away from the Happy Mask Salesman in the past would not change history in the present time; after all, he had promised to help them.
Yet as Link thought about it, it was Majora who had caused the moon to nearly crash into the land four years ago; it was the peddler's foolishness for bringing the mask into the world of the living anyway. Yet the Great Fairy said it was the ancients fault for their wicked ways, no doubt the Great War was a large part of this that the Goddesses had left the Heavens and placed the curse upon the entire land for their wrong doing…So it wasn't just the peddler's fault…
Link felt his head for a moment, trying to piece everything together. There was so much spinning around in his head. So what he could gather from all of this, making sure not to interfere in the war, only to remain fixed on one important detail of the past, and that was guarding the mask. Yet if that was so…then…Honestly, Link wasn't sure if this would even work.
Inuyasha canted his head to the side and crossed his arms. "Why do you want to know about the mask? Didn't you say we needed to just wait for it to be locked away into the tower?" He arched a brow, and when Link registered this, he felt his face grow warm.
"Uh…yeah, you're right…" Link scratched his cheek. All this time travel and deep discussions of the past was really starting to confuse him a little. After a moment of recollecting his thoughts, he started towards the door with Inuyasha following after him, but before turning the knob, he turned back to Inuyasha. "We must not inform anyone about what we know about the Garo or the mask. Things could become complicated if so, and they may raise suspicions towards us. I can't risk putting you and Kagome in harm's way."
Inuyasha smirked. "You don't have to worry about that. I ain't gonna tell nobody."
OOO
Full from the exquisite lunch, Kagome found herself walking the halls of the palace with Cathleen silently beside her. It seemed the unexpected visit from the King's adviser's had her somewhat puzzled and a little frightened when they brought how the citizens in the city had broken one of their beloved statues.
When they arrived at the door where Inuyasha and Link were currently occupying, Kagome raised her hand to knock, but the door unexpectedly opened. She saw Link and Inuyasha in the doorway and stepped back as to let them exit into the halls with her and Cathleen. "Oh Inuyasha, how are you feeling?" And from Inuyasha's nod, she felt relieved. She wanted to ask if Inuyasha had been updated on all that had transpired since they arrived here, but she was a little hesitant since Cathleen was with them.
As if reading her mind, Link merely nodded at the priestess. "I told Inuyasha what happened since he was out cold since our travels," He explained, and relieved, Kagome smiled.
"That's good!"
Cathleen merely looked between the three curiously. "I've been meaning to ask why you and your friends have traveled to our Kingdom. Yesterday by the fire you told me it was something quite personal…"
"Well…" Kagome wasn't sure how to tell the Princess this. "We're looking for someone here in the city that we know and I guess…you could say that this person has something that we need so we can continue on our travels." Well it was the truth, somewhat.
So that's what it was! "Oh I see," Cathleen nodded. "You're meeting a friend of yours in town. I apologize for asking, but it was kind of bothering me a little, please forgive me for being nosy."
"Not at all," Kagome replied with a small laugh.
Turning to look at Inuyasha, Cathleen merely offered him a smile. "It's nice to meet you Inuyasha, my name is Cathleen."
Inuyasha merely stared at her with crossed arms. Well wasn't she just the politest princess. "Yeah, you too."
"Princess," A voice down the hall took everyone's attention off Cathleen and towards the familiar amazon guard known as Roshan approaching them. When she was before the group in front of the guest bed room, she acknowledged them. "Please make yourselves at ease while staying here," She explained before turning to Cathleen. "Princess, it's time to begin your studies. You may talk with your guests after."
Saddened, she nodded. "I hope we can all get together after my studies. Please excuse me." With that said, Princess Cathleen said her goodbyes and left with Roshan down the hall.
As soon as she left, Link turned to Kagome. "I'm not sure how long we have in this time, but our first priority is to locate the pendant somewhere in this castle," He explained. Link felt that was more important than the mask.
"But what about the mask? The Happy Mask Salesman wants us to stop him, but we don't even know where he is…" Kagome replied.
Inuyasha snorted. "Link says we don't have to worry about that until the mask is locked away in the tower," He replied. "We just got to let history run its course and once the King has it sealed away in that tower, we'll just have to make sure that guy doesn't take it."
Well, that sounded less complicated. "Really?"
Link nodded. "Since the Garo are already spying on the city, I'm sure it won't be long until the mask arrives. For now let's search around for the pendant until we get word about the mask."
Before Link and Inuyasha could walk away down the hall, Kagome couldn't help but call out to them. "Wait…"
"What is it?" Inuyasha asked with an arch of a brow.
Kagome frowned. "It's just…since we already know what's going to happen to Ikana after the war…shouldn't we say something?" Unfortunately she already knew the answer when Link shook his head.
"If we do that…I'm not sure what's going to happen…"
"But the Happy Mask Salesman wants us to change history!" Kagome countered back. "He wants us to stop him from stealing the mask from the tower. This could be our big chance to save Termina in the present time! No one would have to suffer anymore."
Inuyasha couldn't help but blink at the priestess. Well he supposed she did have a point on that. "Wait…damn it this time travel stuff is really getting to me!"
Link was silent for a moment. "I understand where you are coming from, Kagome, but let's say we warn the King about the Garo. Perhaps there is a slim chance Ikana prospers in a winning victory and maybe some lives might be saved... That chance is very slim though. It was said Ikana had the strongest army in the lands, but even they could not stand up against the Garo. Yet history says that even the Garo were annihilated during the Great War. Though they were both strong, they could not win…Either way, it would only mean Ikana would still fall even if we attempted to change history."
Kagome frowned at this and scrunched her face in confusion. There had to be a way…right? "I still don't want Cathleen to die though…because we never saw her in the present time…we only saw the dead king and his two dead guards."
Inuyasha felt the need to roll his eyes. 'Yep, that's the kagome I know, the one with the soft spot for others…'
Kagome retorted back. "So then even if we tried to stop him from stealing the mask, he'd still steal it because we can't change history? Then what are we doing?"
When Inuyasha saw that it didn't seem like Kagome wasn't going to drop the subject and that Link was about to argue back, Inuyasha decided to step in. "I know you care about people deeply, Kagome, but you can't always save everyone. You know that first hand," He explained, and at this Kagome couldn't help but puff her cheeks out irritably. "Listen, we're going to look around for the pendant. Since we don't have much time left, we shouldn't waste any time arguing."
Hurt by this, Kagome only silently nodded. "Fine…" With her eyes downcast, she turned her back to them and walked away. Why couldn't they understand? There had to be a way to save them. Right?
Link reached out to stop her, a little dejected he had allowed her to feel so dismayed, but Inuyasha only placed a hand on his shoulder to stop him.
"She always does that when she doesn't get her way," He explained with a shake of his head. "She'll be back to the same Kagome later. Trust me. If you try to stop her now, she'll likely bite your head off," Inuyasha thought back to the many times he had upset the priestess and her temper was not one to reckon with. "I know from experience…"
Link understood, and before following after Inuyasha, he looked back at the priestess, but she was already gone.
OOO
After stepping out of the Palace and away from Inuyasha and Link, Kagome felt the need to scream very loudly. It wasn't fair. She figured Inuyasha would side with her but that wasn't the case; both of them were adamant on not interfering with the war, but it was ok to stop the Happy Mask Salesman from stealing the mask? Either way, she still saw it as tampering with the past, changing history...
The Palace Gardens were right before her, the abundant and lush greenery of the trees towered around the walls of the Palace. As she took in the view around her, walking along the cobblestone path towards the hedges ahead, she noticed a lovely patch of blue flowers to her right. They were surrounded by an arrangement of many colorful plants, and she stepped over to the flower bed absentmindedly before bending down to touch the soft petals.
Ikana's past was very beautiful in her eyes. She'd seen the large statues and buildings carved from stone and the extremity in height of the tower in the distance above the hill from the city and the Palace. There was grass and trees and wild animals, and it wasn't just a desolate canyon any longer, but a place full of life.
The frown never left her face, and Kagome thought back to yesterday, when she and Link were locked away in a shed in town outside the borders of Ikana.
Flash Back
"According to legend, the troubles caused by Majora were so great…the ancient ones," Link was referring to the people of this time period. "had feared a catastrophe would happen, and they sealed the mask in shadow forever, preventing its misuse," He explained.
"Where did they seal it?" She asked.
"In Stone Tower…A temple that lies in Ikana," He explained.
Kagome mused to herself. "Wait…if the tribe sealed the mask in shadow…into the Stone Tower, then that's good, right?" She asked. That would mean the mask would be safe and no longer any trouble on the people of this world.
Link shook his head. "Unfortunately sealing the mask away had not lasted too long, Kagome," He narrowed his eyes at the image of the peddler surfaced in his thoughts. "That's why we were sent here, to stop Him from stealing it again."
Now she understood. So that merchant with his bag of masks had somehow stolen the mask from some other world, then it was apparently worshipped in hexing rituals. Afterward, the people had feared the mask and hoped that by sealing it away would prevent any more chaos, but the Happy Mask Salesman stole it again, thus unleashing terrible destruction upon the land…
Kagome gasped. "Wait!" She suddenly voiced aloud, and when she realized she was a little too loud, she lowered her voice. "Then is that why Ikana is the way it is now…or…in the present day?" Was that why Ikana was so desolate, empty and plagued by strange zombie creatures?
Link nodded. "Yes, but that's only half of the truth," He explained. "There was a war that took place around the same time Majora's Mask had surfaced into this world."
A war? Link sure did know a lot about the past. "So there was a war in Ikana…and…"
"The Garo," Link replied, thus causing the priestess to silently stare in surprise. He suddenly leaned his shoulders against her own, moving his mouth against her ear to whisper to her. He was careful that the wrong ears just outside the shed did not eavesdrop. "Though I'm not sure where they came from, the Garo are currently spying on the Kingdom East of here as we speak…"
"Spying?" She whispered back, blushing as the boy beside her leaned against her. "Why?"
Link pulled away before shrugging. "I'm not sure, but from what I can remember, both sides had been wiped out after the war," He explained,
End Flash Back
"Just how long does Ikana have?" She asked herself, not noticing a shadow behind her.
During their first journey to the Palace to locate the pendant, Kagome remembered the terrifying presence of the King in his dead form, guarded by his two lackeys. He had said something that had surprised her…
"What happens outside my Kingdom is none of my concern. If it's foretold the world will end, then do you intend to change fate?"
"Ikana fell long ago. Perhaps then, if I'd known of such an inevitable doom, I might have tried to appease the gods, but now that is impossible. I simply do not care any longer. Hate and death has already consumed my people, and I can't be afflicted by the problems faced by the living."
So if the King had been warned about the unexpected attack, he would have probably done something that would help his people. Kagome was half tempted to march herself to the Throne Room to his Majesty and tell him, but then he might think of her suspicious. Also, Link and Inuyasha might react unhappily if she did that behind their backs.
Kagome sighed again.
"Miss? Does something trouble you?" A male voice asked from behind her.
Suddenly startled, Kagome immediately stood up and turned towards the man behind her. How long had he been behind her? "Oh no I'm alright." She replied. For a moment, she couldn't help but notice something strangely familiar about this person. He was dressed in a simple black tunic, his shaggy brown hair lying about his shoulders neatly and his knee-length boots were rather muddy, and she presumed he must have worked in the Palace Gardens.
His smile was kind and he seemed pleased to know she wasn't troubled; he'd only been watching her out of curiosity when she first walked into the gardens; In fact, he had seen her earlier that day when Roshan guided the foreigners inside the Palace. "These flowers," He began, stepping beside the priestess. "have never once wilted. They've lived vibrantly for many decades, surviving even through the harsh winters."
Kagome's mouth parted at this. Her thoughts lingered on the young man back in Clock Town, Jo-Ho, who looked very much like Hojo from her present time and from the Feudal Era. Jo-Ho would probably jump at the chance to see these flowers or even take them with him back to town.
There was that strange familiarity she felt towards him. Her brown eyes scrutinized him closely from head to toe. "You seem awfully familiar…"
He turned to her a little bemused. The girl didn't look familiar to him at all. "Really? I do believe this is our first meeting," He laughed. "Perhaps I remind you of someone?"
Kagome thought about this. As she looked at him, all she could think about was the pitiful Re-Dead back in the present time Ikana; it had been the one she killed with her Light Arrow, only because it looked like it was in so much pain. After saving it, she remembered how a human spirit had thanked her before passing on. "Would your name…happen to be Kai?"
His eyes widened. "That's correct," He replied, eyeing her closely. "Perhaps we have met…But I'm sure that I would have remembered a young girl like you… Perhaps my old age is kicking in much faster these days," He laughed.
"Old age? You're at least in your late twenties," Kagome replied back.
He laughed again. "What is your name?"
"Kagome," She replied with a smile.
Kai grinned. "Such a beautiful name."
"Thanks." Kagome smiled. "You're a gardener aren't you?" She asked as she followed him over to a few shrubberies along the path before he began trimming away at the leaves.
Kai nodded. "Yes. I have remained a gardener for the Royal Family for many years now. It's good money and the income helps me take care of my family. I have a wife and three kids at home, not to mention a newborn on the way."
Her mouth flew open in surprise. "Oh wow you have such a large family!"
"Well that's normal for any family really. I've seen quite a few with over 7 or 8 kids. Do you have any children by chance?" He asked, looking away from trimming the bushes to look at the girl beside him.
She pondered for a moment. "Well…I am taking care of a little boy, but he's not really my child. I adopted him on my travels."
The gardener found this very interesting. What a gentle person this woman whom their Princess called a priestess. "Regardless of blood or not, he is your child."
Kagome nodded. "I miss him very much…"
"Is he not with you?"
"At the moment, no…He's with a few friends of mine that stayed behind in town," She replied.
Kai nodded at this. "That boy is very lucky that he has such a caring mother figure to watch out for him. He could have ended up in a worst situation if you hadn't come along."
That was very true. The first time Kagome met Shippo was when she and Inuyasha were having a picnic in a field of corpses…no thanks to Inuyasha of course. And it was at that time that Shippo had popped out of nowhere and stole her jar of jewel fragments. It wasn't until later that he explained his reasons and that was to avenge his father's death by the Thunder Brothers. If she and Inuyasha hadn't have showed up, he might have succumbed to the same death that happened to his father.
Deciding to change the topic, Kagome watched as Kai moved about the garden, tending to the flowers diligently while following. "Do you take care of this entire garden by yourself?"
"Just the King's favorite flowers," He replied. "Mainly the ones around the outside of the Palace and the one's inside. Each gardener is tasked with a different job."
Kagome pondered to herself about the flowers he had mentioned earlier to her. "How can flowers never wilt here?"
Kai looked up and winked at her before placing a finger to his lips as if speaking in secrecy. "That's what's so special about them. They are called Goddess Flowers, but don't tell the King that," He whispered before looking around. "The law states that all Goddesses shall not be revered, at least that's what the King had proclaimed during his enthronement some time back," He explained. "But there are still those of us who remain faithful," He replied before bending down to touch the stem of the flower Kagome had been looking at earlier. "They say the pollen extracted from these flowers can cure any sickness."
This surprised her. A Goddess Flower that could cure any sickness and it would never wilt no matter how harsh the weather might seem? Now that was very fascinating. "That's amazing…"
He stood up. "I believe these are the only known flowers in the world that still exist." Kai looked at her before patting her head as if he were talking to a child. "I hope you don't tell anyone this." He laughed.
Kagome pouted. "You don't have to worry about that."
"I didn't think you would," He winked. "You have the face of an honest person and the eyes of one to be very trust worthy."
Kagome flushed at this and smiled. Well she wasn't very used to compliments, but she appreciated it of course. Rather than thank him, she continued watching him walk around the garden, tending to the plants and herbs.
Because he remembered he had forgotten something back inside the Palace, Kai turned to step towards the stairs, but he hadn't intended for the priestess to reach out and grab his hand. "Miss?" He noticed her troubled expression, her eyes wide with worry, and bemused by this, he turned to face her.
"Um…Kai,"
"Yes?"
If she couldn't directly just tell him about the war then she had a different method that might work. Thankfully Link and Inuyasha weren't around to witness this, because if they were, well…she hated to think about that. "Let me read your palm."
Kai blinked. Read his palm? "My palm? Kagome you are blessed with such powers?" He asked fully amazed. "I didn't know priestesses had such abilities."
Kagome laughed as she sweat dropped. She was still holding onto his hand and allowed herself to turn it over to inspect the lines and callouses there. "Oh well…priestesses have many talents," She replied. As he allowed her to read his palm, Kagome took a moment to survey the lines on his palm. There were many lines on his hand, and as he watched her with interest and curiosity, she looked him in the eye. "There is something very tragic about to happen in your life, Kai..."
"Tragic? What is that?" He asked, his smile suddenly disappearing from his face.
Kagome frowned. "It might be best to take your family and leave Ikana for a short while…The…lines on your palm tell me of great catastrophe to befall you and your loved ones," She replied a little fearfully. It was the only way she could think to warn Kai so he didn't die in the castle. "If you do this, you and your family will live a long life."
After the priestess had released his hand, Kai only stared at her with confusion. Something tragic would befall him and his family? Was this priestess speaking the truth? Her eyes didn't lie, that much he could see. In fact, she deemed a little desolate and her gaze seemed quite stern and sincere. It seemed there was much more to it than just his and his family's fate at risk. But despite that, he offered her a small smile. "Thank you. Your powers are indeed amazing, Kagome. I will take what you've said into consideration."
She only nodded, her brown eyes somewhat sad to see him smiling as he was. When he waved her goodbye and left into the Palace without looking back, Kagome wondered if he truly believed her. Would he flee? Had he noticed the graveness in her voice and stare and would he warn others?
Sighing, she was about to wander around in the hedged maze ahead, but when she heard bickering coming from the back entrance of the Palace where Kai had exited previously, she caught sight of the Composer Brothers. What were they talking about?
Sharp, like usual it seemed, was completely frustrated, his face red and his eyes dangerously narrowed at his brother. Flat on the other hand seemed a little at a loss, attempting to calm and reassure his brother of something or other; Kagome wondered if Sharp was still angered by the constant interruptions during lunch or if it was something else.
"I swear Flat, he never gives us credit!" Sharp hissed with clenched fists. "I'll have you know that our former King NEVER dismissed us in such ways before!"
Flat frowned as he clutched his flute to his chest before looking around to see if anyone was listening. He hadn't noticed the priestess watching in curiosity and returned his gaze to his sibling. "Please brother, we must not bring up the previous Kin—"
His older brother glared at him and Flat couldn't help but flinch at the coldness in his stare. "Why we were the entire talk of the Palace back then! Our songs easily relieved the tensions of Palace life, and they certainly eased the ailments that plagued the Royal Family for some years now! And yet he treats us this way! When was the last time we ever played a complete song for his Majesty?"
Flat scratched his head. "I'm sure it was a month ago…" He pondered. "But still, you must know that our King is very busy these days…I mean he never gets a chance to simply sit down and relax, Sharp…"
He scoffed at this. "It's as if he no longer has any use for us!"
"Don't say that, brother…" Flat pleaded. "I'm sure he doesn't mean this…After all…much grief has fallen upon our King, even before his enthronement…"
Sharp only crossed his arms. "I was there, Flat. You don't have to remind me. Why his younger brother had ruled the Kingdom wonderfully fourteen years ago and he loved our music! But under horrid circumstances a mysterious plague killed our previous King, his father and mother, leaving only the eldest to rule…That Igos Du Ikana!" He rasped with much pent up hostility.
Flat sighed. "It wasn't just the plague that brought sadness to our King. Years back, his son went missing…Recently our Princess was kidnapped and because of this, the Royal Magic Users had to place a barrier around the Palace," He explained before smiling. "But our Princess was returned to us just this morning by some travelers, Sharp," He explained, but Sharp only turned his nose away. "You must understand how hard it has been for the King…Brother tell me you have not heard the rebellion in town? Even a threat letter was sent to the King just last night!"
"I know this, Flat!"
But Flat continued on. "So please, brother, put your anger behind you and understand. We live in dangerous times…Sometimes music isn't enough to drown out those sorrows…Perhaps when things have settled down, then maybe our King might rejoice in our music again."
Sharp only scowled at his brother's words. Sometimes music wasn't enough to relieve sorrow? How laughable! "Our music is unlike any other out in this world, Flat! You shouldn't compare ours to other simpletons! That just won't do at all!"
Just downright irritated and through with listening to his younger brother and his attempts at trying to persuade his thinking, Sharp returned back into the Palace with heavy footsteps before slamming the door behind him.
When Kagome heard all this, she felt pity for the King and Cathleen. So Cathleen had a brother, and he went missing years ago? The King lost his family to a plague as well? Ikana was really an unfortunate land tortured by grief…and now it was going to perish because of the war very soon.
Once Sharp disappeared into the halls of the Palace Flat retired himself by the fountain, sitting on the rim of it before allowing his head to fall downcast in obvious sadness. It was at that point that Kagome decided to join the composer, and she surprised him by sitting next to him and placing a comforting hand onto his shoulder.
"Oh priestess…I guess you heard all that," He replied with a solemn glance.
She nodded. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to eavesdrop."
"No it's alright. You have nothing to be sorry about. My brother…he can be a little self-centered at times… This is normal these days between us," He explained sadly, and at this Kagome couldn't help but feel a tug at her heart. "He never liked our current King and ever since, nothing but mishaps have happened to the Royal Family. As you could probably see, my brother has placed the blame onto the King."
That wasn't right, but Kagome wasn't about to voice that. Instead she sat there with him, listening to the birds chirp and flutter around the gardens. There was a peaceful silence that fell upon the two as they sat there looking upon the shrubberies around them. Their thoughts however were both troubled, with their own personal problems and an uncertainty of how to fix them.
"You know, I thought you played your flute very well," Kagome couldn't help but compliment him, and she smiled at him before bringing his flute to his lips to play a small tune to her. "It's sad you and your brother never got to finish your song for us earlier today. I know we were all looking forward to listening to it."
Flat flashed a wide smile to her. "Really? Then if you'd like, I could play you something," He began and from Kagome's eager nod, he pressed his lips against the mouthpiece of the wooden instrument while his fingers danced across the small holes on the sides of it.
It was beautiful; that's all Kagome could think as she sat there with her eyes closed. The melody he played was very dramatic and very carefree, and as she listened, she almost felt all her worries melt away, but unfortunately he had ended the song after a few minutes.
Despite it having ended, Kagome clapped her hands, and Flat felt his face grow red when he realized she enjoyed it just as much as he had. "That was wonderful!"
"Thank you. I'm glad you liked it."
"How long have you been playing the flute?" Kagome asked, and at this his grin never wavered.
Flat held his instrument lightly in his hands, eyeing it as memories flashed across his mind. "I've been playing ever since I was a child. It was the same with my brother."
Now that was amazing. "Wow, since you were both very little? That's amazing. Were you born into the Royal Family or was it like destiny that you and your brother were chosen to play for the King?"
Flat laughed at her term 'destiny,' but otherwise nodded. "We were born into the Royal Family's Musical class and our generation has lived on for many centuries."
As Kagome sat there with the composer brother, he told her sorts of interesting things of Palace life. He ended up telling her a good full story of his personal life as well as his brother's. There was even an instance where he explained how his and Sharp's music could heal the spirit and mind of a person if they listened to their song, and at this Kagome had to agree, explaining she had also felt it when he was playing.
"If only I could listen to you and Sharp playing. I could really use some peace of mind these days," She explained with a slight laugh, which suddenly urged Flat's curiosity.
Flat frowned. "You are burdened with problems, Kagome?"
She nodded. "Yeah. It's really complicated," She replied.
"Please, I would love to hear about them," Flat replied earnestly. "Though music may ease that discomfort we all feel at times, merely speaking your mind to friends can also help immensely. So Kagome, I'm all ears."
Somehow, Kagome felt she could trust him. Even if he was from the distant past of Ikana, he had a kind soul, she was sure. "Well…even if I told you the entire story, you might not believe me. But basically what happened was this. My friends and I were on a journey to find the fragments of a powerful jewel, mainly because it was my fault for breaking it in the first place. Yet during our journey, somehow we got lost and ended up very far away from home," She explained, and as she went on, Flat only nodded, his ears fully captured by her words that told him stories of her adventures into a mysterious land. "Because we're so far away from my home, we're not too sure how to get back, to be honest. We ended up agreeing to help a great many people in this land but it hasn't been easy. But thankfully I'm not alone. My friends have stayed by my side this entire time. We've had our shares of unexpected attacks from bad people on our way."
"Truly you are troubled, priestess!" Flat was saddened for the priestess. "Yet even as you are on this journey, you have done wondrous things for those around you. For instance, you and your friend did rescue our Princess, and for that we are deeply in your debt."
This caused her to blush in embarrassment. "Oh no it was nothing, really. I mean we can't simply turn a blind eye to someone in need."
"You're too modest!" He laughed. "But I'm sure you and your friends will return home to your families very soon. Don't lose faith in that. After all, what would life be without an adventure?"
She nodded at this. "You're right." As she smiled at the composer seated beside her, she couldn't help but stare at his wooden flute. "You know, I used to be in the choir back in my land and my first instrument was a flute, but I was never really good at playing it."
Hearing this, Flat felt his mouth open in surprise. "Not only are you a priestess but you are also a singer and one that has learned to play a flute? Truly you have surprised me!" At that instant he suddenly offered her his flute, to which she shook her head to reject, but Flat was insistent. "Please play something from your land."
"Oh but I'm not really good and—"
That made no difference to Flat though, and he stared at her as if he were a little puppy waiting on a fresh bone. Kagome agreed and as she held the flute, she wondered what song she would play. It had to be something easy and less complicated. Kagome didn't dare play those beginner songs.
After finally deciding on one, she brought the flute to her lips and a few soft notes rang through the gardens, followed after by a few awkward slip ups on her part. Eventually the music grew more harmonious and she was ecstatic when the notes weren't too high or too soft. It wasn't perfect, but it certainly sounded nice.
After finishing, she lowered the flute and grinned at the composer smiling at her. "That was called Shinjitsu No Mori, otherwise known as Song of Truth."
"It was beautiful. You don't give yourself enough credit, Kagome. I thought you played it wonderfully," Flat complimented and Kagome blushed. "What is the song about, if I might ask?"
Kagome thought about that. "Well the song is about wanting someone near you to guide you through hard times pretty much."
"Perhaps I would understand it more if you sang for me?" Flat asked, and when he saw the look of shock cross the priestess's face, he couldn't help but take the flute from her lap where she had dropped it out of surprise. "Then it's settled. Sing for me, please."
"Oh no I couldn't possibly. I'm not very good at singing…" Even to this day, Inuyasha still made fun of her for it. Last time she remembered he had attended the Cultural Festival, under dire circumstances, and had teased her constantly about her singing voice when she had that solo in the choir.
Flat frowned at this. "If you were in a choir then you must certainly have the voice of an angel. Please allow me to listen to your voice."
Well she was a little hesitant to sing for him, but since he seemed adamant on the idea and there were no others around, she decided it couldn't hurt. After agreeing, the composer played the song she had played on the flute, and because of his memory, he knew the tune entirely and backwards if asked to play so.
Gulping, Kagome awaited for the moment when the lyrics in the song began, and when that moment finally came, her heart pounded in her chest heavily.
"The crimson-stained sunshine seems to touch everything
I cannot see the future, and the past is so frightening
I see that the present is just as I imagined
But is it for me anymore?
I just do not think I can go on
Please reach deep inside me
Where my heart is weeping
I am so numb that I think I am dying
I need you to taint me—
I need to be taught how to feel
I know you will find me
When my soul is bleeding
If my life crumbles I'll have you to guide me
I know the Song of Truth will be there to remind me I'm real"
The solo for the flute suddenly came up, and as Kagome released a soft breath from the high pitches in the song, she couldn't help but feel a small smile tug at her lips. She couldn't help but watch as Flat played the flute so wonderfully, and he hadn't missed a single beat in the tune; in fact, he added life that was missing during her awkward playing.
Flat was truly a wonderful musician! His fingers rhythmically danced across the surface of his instrument, and his eyes were closed the entire time. As she continued watching him, almost as if she were caught into a trance by his playing, she almost missed her cue to jump in finish the second half of the song.
"All of this dissonance seems so unending
What is most valuable? What is worth defending?
I see my rebellion has left me so blinded
To simple things just like the smiles given by the strangers that I pass
If they really are eternal, and you have found the answers
To every riddle that's shrouded in darkness
I know you will taint me, I know I will learn how to feel
I have always looked behind me, following the shadows
Of castles that fly to a bright new tomorrow
With the Song of Truth to guide me, I know that I will one day heal
If they really are eternal, and you have found the answers
To every riddle that's shrouded in darkness
I know the Song of Truth will be there to remind me I'm real
I need you to taint me—I need to be taught how to feel
I'm begging you to taint me just so I can learn how to feel
With the Song of Truth to guide me,
I know that I will one day heal"
OOO
"Get out of our village!"
"We don't want a war! Get out! Leave us alone!"
Those were the shouts the citizens cried as they attempted to fight against the hooded men who had called themselves the Garo. Those suspicious men had warned them previously of a war to happen after they had forcefully arrived upon their humble and poor home. Immediately, after they had set up their base, they then started barking orders; they went so far as to hold their people prisoner.
Their small numbers were pushed back by the armed and robed men who refused to reveal their mysterious faces. No matter what insult or cry they received, they only ignored them, which urged the citizens to rebel more harshly.
Many of the men and women were pushing each other in attempts to coerce the Garo out of their village, but it proved difficult with swords pointed at their faces. The children were all but running around in between them, some unaware of the alarming situation while others were standing close to their mothers and grandparents.
After having arrived earlier that night, Lucian, the head of the Garo, otherwise known as the Master Garo, exited the small hut. It was there that he'd been quietly formulating his plans to attack Ikana. However all the ruckus from the protesting peasants outside had caused him to lose focus.
Lucian turned to one of the men standing by the hut. "Why do they cause such a loud disturbance?"
The Garo soldier didn't hesitate to explain their odd reasoning's. "They fear we are the cause of a war that might soon befall their settlement!"
Was that all it was? How despicable. Why these people should feel honored and thankful that he hadn't allowed his men to slaughter them; after all, the peasants didn't pose any hindrance or threat to his men or his home beyond the canyons.
"Sir, permission to end their cries?" One asked from the side lines after he had pushed a small child to the ground where she fell into tears after.
The Master Garo waved his hand at this. "They are simple minded folk. There is no need."
Earlier when he had arrived, he was informed of two suspicious individuals who had been seized just outside the walls of the village; it was presumed the couple, a young girl and young boy had caused a strange mystical light and his men had witnessed the unbelievable event. Unfortunately the two had escaped before he could arrive to question them and they fled during the night; wherever they ran off to, it was no longer his concern.
All that mattered now was invading Ikana as soon as his men returned from their job at the canyon. With their report, and if positive, then he and his men would attack. Their plan was simple; they needed to locate a way to infiltrate the city without being seen, and from there their plan would be set in motion.
When it seemed his men were still troubled by the rebellious citizens, with one in particular shouting in his face, Lucian approached that peasant with an air of coldness. When he unsheathed his sword, the older woman immediately stepped back, though her face betrayed her resentment. "Can't you see we are only here to protect you?"
She spit in his face. "You call 'protecting' us, dragging two innocents into our home and locking them inside a shed?!" The older lady was referring to the sweet foreign girl with long raven hair and brown eyes and the blonde haired lad with blue eyes that had thankfully fled the other night. "You took my husband from me last night and I demand that you release him!"
Lucian wiped the saliva from his cheek before snorting at the lady. Moving a step closer to her, he raised his hand and immediately his back hand landed across her cheek, and she fell upon the ground with a bleeding lip. "Anyone suspicious should be questioned, shouldn't they?"
Unable to stand and hear of it any longer, a little girl with a long braid bounded over to the older woman upon the ground before wrapping her arms around her shoulders; she glared at the Garo towering before them. "And that's what we're doing! The only ones around here that are suspicious are you idiots!" Petunia retaliated defiantly, with her Cuccu Henry next to her clucking.
"Why you impertinent little brat!" One of them shouted, but Lucian held his hand up to stop the young soldier from harming the child.
It was at this moment that one of the soldiers, who had been sent to bring back the spies from up in the canyons, had suddenly appeared before him.
Lucian saw this and looked upon the knelt Garo at his feet. "Why have you come back alone? Where are the others?" The master questioned, but his soldier merely shook his head.
From his pocket, he revealed a small piece of parchment to which Lucian merely looked at it with a raised brow. "Unfortunately our men who were out spying are dead. Their bodies were completely mutilated to an extent that we could tell who was who," He explained, and at this Lucian narrowed his gaze, not believing this. "This letter was left on one of the corpses."
A letter was handed to him with reddish brown spots upon its surface, and he didn't have to think twice to know it was blood. "They were killed by those heathens?" He asked, though he figured he already knew the answer to that. Without hesitation, he unfolded the parchment before reading the fancy writing upon it, which was addressed to him, mysteriously.
How dare you send your filth upon my precious land?
If you so much as cross my borders again, you and your men will suffer the consequences just like your nauseating spies.
But if you think you have what it takes to challenge me, the Great and Powerful King of Ikana, then show me the might of your forces! Step into my battleground and feel the rush of my army blessed by the Four Great Protectors of my Kingdom.
I fear no man or beast that lives. Do your worst, because I shall not lose to anyone!
Igos Du Ikana
Lucian crushed the piece of parchment into his fist and he turned to the rest of his men, still attempting to push back the villagers. How dare that King! Well it was certainly interesting that he and his people were aware of their secretive schemes. But how was it possible? He knew his men were experts in their clan's secret Jutsu, and no one, until today had been aware of it.
Perhaps he underestimated them Ikanaians; they were however very knowledgeable and impressive for building such a city from stone, yet it seemed they were well prepared for unexpected attacks. This could prove to be a very riveting battle.
"Sir?" The soldier asked still knelt before him respectively. "Should we commence our attack now that the entire city has probably been informed of our invasion?"
He smirked. "Let us prepare. Tonight we shall attack."